13 May 2010

U.S. Senate: New Britain Didn't Stiff Merrick Albert

He got into the U.S. Senate race as an upstart Democratic challenger to an increasingly vulnerable Chris Dodd. He sent Democratic leaders a self-published and autographed autobiography and tooled around the state delivering an anti-war message akin to the Lamont campaign of 2006. He appeared to be on a mission to go from political kindergarten to graduate school despite having no higher position than a seat on his own Town Committee.

Sadly, however, Merrick Albert has adopted a Republican line of attack against Blumenthal for going to court too much on behalf of state residents. It matters little to Albert that Blumenthal's litigiousness has to do with challenging utility rate hikes, protecting manufacturing jobs or fighting health insurance hikes. Like the Republicans now running, Albert's rationale for running -- an incumbent Chris Dodd -- left the race.

Gaining little traction with Democratic regulars and the rank and file party members around the state, Albert has issued a pre-convention press release broadly denouncing town chairpersons for stiffing him when it comes to speaking.

There can be no doubt that Albert has been rudely rebuffed by some Town Chairs. His new release, however, lists the New Britain Democratic Town Committee as having a Town Chair who refused to allow him to speak. That's not true. I am the Town Chair in New Britain and am relatively easy to reach if you make an effort to try. That has not been the way the Albert campaign has operated, at least in communicating with New Britain Democrats. Leaving it to a campaign manager to send a friendly missive or request via letter to people with work, families and community service to balance is rarely sufficient.

In New Britain Democrats Merrick Albert would have found a respectful group ready to listen had he shown up uninvited. He just didn't try.